ENGLEWOOD — Jake Eikleberry knew what he had to do. The Byers senior was taking the mound against defending Class 2A state champion Rye, which had won 45 of 46 games. Rearing back and firing wasn't going to get it done.

So the crafty left-hander changed speeds, pitched to spots and used his fastball to lift the Bulldogs to a 5-2 extra-inning victory over the Thunderbolts in the semifinals Friday at Harry Wise Field.

Byers will take a 15-4 record into today's finale as well as the upbeat feeling its players left the field with — the Bulldogs knew they took down the heavy favorite.

"We knew they were too good for me to just throw fastballs," said Eikleberry, who will attend Garden City (Kan.) Junior College. "I was just trying to mix my off-speed and just try to keep them off balance."

Eikleberry went the distance and improved to 7-1. He struck out 11, allowed six hits and pitched out of trouble twice late, notably in the seventh inning. The Thunderbolts had runners on second and third with one out, but Eikleberry struck out Luis Ortiz, then got D.J. Drury on a comebacker.

Byers took the lead in the eighth when Eikleberry missed an opposite-field home run to left field by about a foot, then scored on a single and an error. A batter later, Jared Martin ripped a two-run homer to left.

In the bottom of the inning, Eikleberry pitched a 1-2-3 inning, getting the final out on another comebacker.

"(Eikleberry) just did a really nice job for us, and our defense was good," Bulldogs coach David Dodge said.

Rye coach Larry Milligan had no excuses, commenting that "all losses are tough. And (the Bulldogs) made all the plays."

In particular, Chase Dean was stellar at third base. And Milligan said Martin, the first baseman, "probably saved them three or four errors" by handling low and/or bouncing throws.

Resurrection Christian 6, Paonia 0. It was Jake Lohr's game, and he wasn't going to let the Eagles do anything about it.

The sophomore tossed a three-hitter and permitted only five baserunners as the Cougars (21-3) methodically and gradually beat Paonia (17-6).

"It was fantatsic," said Lohr, who struck out five. "I was just throwing fastballs early, and our defense was great. I was throwing more breaking balls later, and it's nice to know the defense had my back."

Bryan Wallman had two hits, scored twice and knocked in a run for Resurrection Christian.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story